The individual votes were not counted, just the global numbers, but they are counted 'face up' - and if you're quick you can get a sense of what the results might be. We heard that the Conservatives had a lot of counters working at the verification and glum faces were noted. Someone who was there told us the predicted results were 21 Conservatives, 22 Independents, 4 Lib Dems and 4 that were too close to call.

But this morning all that changed as the results were counted properly. Having previously verified the numbers, the actual count of the votes took place.

The process is to use a long strip of card with a sticky strip along the middle of the length. At the right hand end is stuck a blank ballot paper, then individual voting papers cascade back from this so just the column of Xs are showing (almost like a hand of cards). This means you can see ten results on the long card. Adding up the Xs for the row gives you a total to put in the blank box at the end.

Then the 'summaries of tens' are aggregated to give the final count.

So, what were the results?

We bring them for our readers below. In the next few days we'll do an analysis of what it's likely to mean.

ANSDELL WARD- FBC 3 seats
========================
1033 AITKEN, Benjamin Ian Conservative
1002 EAVES David Russell Conservative
981 REDCLIFFE Richard Verran Conservative.
386 TUPLING-PREST Paula Fylde Ratepayers candidate.
319 SHERWOOD Marjorie Janet Labour
267 SINGLETON Ben Labour
219 STEPHENSON Peter James Labour
181 STRUTTE Matthew John Liberal Democrat

ASHTON WARD - FBC 3 seats
=======================
721 DAVIES John Raymond Fylde Ratepayers
687 FORD Tony Liberal Democrat
538 GOODMAN Gail Conservative.
497 NASH Barbara Ann Conservative
487 SAVIC Peter George Independent
447 GRADDON John Liberal Democrat.
404 RILEY Ellie Conservative

CENTRAL WARD FBC 3 seats
=======================
612 FAZACKERLEY Susan Mary Conservative
566 NASH Edward John Conservative.
538 CRAIG-WILSON Fabian. Conservative
440 RAMSBOTTOM John Francis Independent
412 WHITEHEAD Bill Integrity UK

CLIFTON WARD FBC 3 seats
======================
828 DAVIES Len Conservative
813 DUFFY Charlie Independent
804 HOPWOOD Ken Independent
699 FULFORD-BROWN Richard Anthony Conservative

ELSWICK WITH LITTLE ECCLESTON WARD FBC 1 seat
===========================================
589 HAYHURST Paul Joseph Independent
113 CARRICK Christine Anne Conservative

FAIRHAVEN WARD FBC 3 seats
=========================
941 LITTLE Cheryl Doreen Conservative
741 EASTHAM Richard Kevin Fylde Ratepayers
702 DONALDSON David Grieve Conservative
692 DALMASSO Amanda Victoria Conservative
438 FIELDING Bob Liberal Democrat

FRECKLETON EAST WARD FBC 2 seats
===============================
707 THRELFALL Tommy
473 MULHOLLAND James Kiran Independent
332 LANCASTER Cathryn Ann Conservative
159 LAMB Faye Samantha Conservative

FRECKLETON WEST WARD FBC 2 seats
=============================
758 FIDDLER Dr Trevor
714 RIGBY Louis Independent.
137 KING Sophie Michelle Conservative
120 GLEAVE Nicholas Conservative,

HEYHOUSES WARD FBC 3 seats
==========================
839 WILLDER Viv Conservative.
723 WOOD Peter Conservative.
681 GOODRICH Nigel Conservative.
559 FIELDING Patricia Anne Liberal Democrat.
488 HARRISON Beverley Susan Liberal democrat.

KILNHOUSE WARD FBC 3 seats
=========================
623 HENSHAW Karen Maureen Liberal Democrat.
614 AKEROYD Christine Elizabeth Conservative
531 ARMIT Timothy William Conservative.
479 ELLIS Richard Keith Independent.
475 HARVEY Neil Conservative.
252 WHITEHEAD Rick Integrity UK.

KIRKHAM NORTH FBC 3 seats
========================
1007 SILVERWOOD Elaine Margaret Independent.
880 BECKETT Keith
668 HODGSON Paul Anthony Independent.
469 RHODES Ted Conservative
396 OLDFIELD William Edward Conservative
204 HILL Michael Paul Conservative.

KIRKHAM SOUTH FBC 2 seats
========================
698 OADES Liz Independent.
400 HARDY Peter Independent.
152 MITCHELL Barry Dr Conservative.
151 CARRICK Sarah Louise Conservative.
148 DAVENPORT Dennis John Labour.

MEDLAR-WITH-WESHAM WARD FBC 2 seats
===================================
651 NULTY Linda Jane Independent.
591 CLAYTON Alan David Independent.
311 HOWARTH Martin Conservative.
209 JONES Stuart Robert Andrew Conservative.
97 BALL Peter Rodney Integrity UK

NEWTON AND TREALES WARD FBC 2 seats
===================================
837 SPEAK Heather Ann Independent.
675 COLLINS Peter Independent.
326 MACKINTOSH Colin Edward Conservative.
324 BUTLER Stephen David Anthony Conservative.
140 WINLOW Pam Liberal democrat

PARK WARD FBC 3 seats
====================
1052 CHEDD David Mark Independent.
1085 COX Simon Peter Leigh Conservative
976 PRESTWICH Dawn Stansfield Conservative.
962 LARDNER Matthew Conservative.

RIBBY-WITH-WREA WARD FBC 1 seat
==============================
374 ANDREWS Frank Roland Conservative.
324 WARDELL Janet Lynn Independent.

SINGLETON AND GREENHALGH WARD FBC 1 seat
========================================
369 CHEW Maxine Independent
106 CLARKSON Elizabeth Conservative.
51 ROBERTS Ian Stanley Green Party

ST. JOHN`S WARD FBC 3 seats
=========================
771 ACKERS Brenda Margaret Conservative.
717 ASHTON Tim Conservative.
704 HARPER Kath
672 CORNAH Michael Scott Conservative.
424 GILLIGAN Carol Josephine Liberal Democrat

ST. LEONARD'S WARD FBC 3 seats
=============================
815 HENSHAW Howard Liberal democrat.
547 BUCKLEY Karen Elizabeth Conservative.
477 JACQUES Angela Rosemary Conservative.
468 LANYON Carol Lynn Liberal Democrat.
402 CHATFIELD Martin Harry Conservative.
318 DOWNEY Des
293 BOSTOCK Fred Labour.
260 TAYLOR Bill Labour.
176 ASTIN Carolyn Eloise Integrity UK.

STAINING & WEETON WARD FBC 2 seats
=================================
582 SINGLETON John Rossall Conservative.
475 POUNDER Albert George Conservative.
355 HALL Stephen Independent:
242 ANSELL Nick Labour.
96 HOULDSWORTH Stacey Anne Green Party.

WARTON & WESTBY WARD FBC 3 seats
================================
775 ASHTON Susan Ann Conservative.
725 BRICKLES Julie Ann Independent.
700 CUNNINGHAM Susanne Conservative
678 DOUGLAS Barbara Ellen Conservative.
527 GILBERT Michael

======================================

SAINT ANNE'S ON THE SEA TOWN COUNCIL

ASHTON WARD Town Council 2 seats
======================================
874 FORD Tony
661 GOODMAN Gail Conservative.
540 CARMICHAEL Abigail Liberal Democrat
498HARRISON Jon Edward

CENTRAL WARD Town Council 2 seats
===============================
477 MACKENZIE Barbara Elizabeth
465 NASH Edward John Conservative.
460 NASH Barbara Ann. Conservative.
419 RILEY Marie
260 RAMSBOTTOM John Francis

FAIRHAVEN WARD Town Council 1 seat
================================
629 LITTLE Cheryl Doreen Conservative.
255 FIELDING Bob Liberal Democrat
120 WHITEHEAD Rick Integrity UK

HEYHOUSES WARD Town Council 2 seats
==================================
729 WILDER Viv Conservative
639 SETTLE Vincent James Conservative.
432 FIELDING Patricia Anne Liberal Democrat
518 ROBERTS Ian Stanley
339 HARRISON Beverley Susan Liberal Democrat

KILNHOUSE WARD Town Council 2 seats
=================================
687 HENSHAW Karen Maureen Liberal Democrat
647 AKEROYD Christine Elizabeth Conservative.
478 MCLAREN Jayne Retta Menzies Conservative.
313 WHITEHEAD Bill Integrity UK

PARK WARD Town Council 1 seat
===========================
448 PRESTWICH Dawn Stansfield Conservative.
218 GILLIGAN Carol Josephine Liberal Democrat

ST LEONARDS Town Council 2 seats
=============================
828 LANYON Carol Lynn Liberal Democrat
626 JACQUES Angela Rosemary Conservative.
490 CHATFIELD Martin Harry Conservative.
402 ASTIN Carolyn Eloise Integrity UK

So those are the raw results. Turnout overall was 46%

FBC
Conservative 26
Independents 20
Lib Dem 3
Ratepayers 2

St Annes Town Council
Conservatives 8
Lib Dems 2
Independent / unspecified 2

Analysis and more details to follow shortly

Dated: 6 May 2011 011